Welcome to the Church of Saint Matthew, a faith-filled community located in Tolland, Connecticut. We are a Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich.
We extend a warm welcome to all who attend our church. We hope that you will find our parish community a place where your life of faith will be nourished. We also hope that you will share your special talents within the community.
Your prayers, your presence and your talents are most welcome. Please introduce yourself after Mass.
May God bless all of us.
PASTOR'S REFLECTIONS
June 21, 2009
My Dear Friends in Christ:
Earlier this year, Pope Benedict XVI, made this announcement: “I have decided to establish a special ‘Year for Priests’ that will begin on 19 June and last until 19 June 2010. In fact, it is the 150th anniversary of the death of the Holy Curé d'Ars, John Mary Vianney, a true example of a pastor at the service of Christ's flock.” St. John Vianney is patron of parish priests and soon will be named patron of all priests. He was pastor of a small parish in Ars, France and was noted for his holiness and pastoral care of his people, spending many hours at a time hearing confessions and in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This past Friday, June 19th, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, the Holy Father inaugurated this special “Year for Priests.” Claudio Cardinal Hummes, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, said this about this special year: “It must be a year that is both positive and forward looking in which the Church says to her priests above all, but also to all the Faithful and to wider society by means of the mass media, that she is proud of her priests, loves them, honors them, admires them and that she recognizes with gratitude their pastoral work and the witness of the their life. Truthfully priests are important not only for what they do but also for who they are.” As I begin my 45th year as a priest, I find the words of the Pope and Cardinal Hummes, and the Holy Father’s decision to establish this “Year for Priests,” very encouraging and supportive at a time when the image of the priesthood has been compromised by a small minority of priests who have been involved in public scandals of a very serious and grave nature. While such matters need to be investigated with proper judicial processes followed and penalties imposed accordingly, Cardinal Hummes goes on to say: “The overwhelming majority of priests are people of great personal integrity, dedicated to the sacred ministry; men of prayer and of pastoral charity, who invest their entire existence in the fulfillment of their vocation and mission, often through great personal sacrifice, but always with an authentic love towards Jesus Christ, the Church and the people, in solidarity with the poor and the suffering. It is for this reason that the Church is proud of her priests wherever they may be found.” Amen!
Sincerely,
(Click below for weekly message)
St. Matthew Children's Thrift Shop
St. Matthew Church is getting a new Children’s Thrift Shop located in the old Parish Office on the Dunn Hill Rd. side.
Mattie’s Togs will be accepting clean, nearly new (on hangers if possible) infants thru size 6 CLOTHING ONLY. Donations of children’s hangers graciously accepted! A box will be set out in the Parish Hall.
The projected opening date is June 20th from 9:00am-1:00pm.
Please call Billie at 860-871-0260 with any questions or for more information.
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time “Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”- Mark 4:40/span>
The thought of stewardship terrifies some of us. We may feel we cannot afford to give God a grateful share or to give the first fruits rather than the leftovers. It takes great faith and trust to believe that, just as He calmed the storm and quieted the waves, Our God will always provide us with all that we need, if we trust Him enough to give to Him first.
Help a Child in Haiti The St. Matthew Underwriting Campaign for Haiti Mission gives parishioners the opportunity to help a child go to school. Parishioners who would like to support our mission to St. Pierre School in Ganthier may pick up a flyer on our windowsills or at the entrance to the Parish Center, or download a contribution form here. While these are tough economic times in our country, many children in Haiti have no opportunity for an education and don’t know where their next meal will come from. Help us help them! Now!!
